Philharmonia Orchestra London: Mitsuko Uchida plays Beethoven

About the Event

Immerse yourself in the stunning architecture of London's breathtaking Southbank Centre for the ultimate concert set to awake your understanding of classical music.

Esteemed pianist Dame Mitsuko Uchida graces us with her presence as the soloist in Beethoven's vibrant Second Piano Concerto.

Dame Uchida is unparalleled in her interpretation of Beethoven's works. Her remarkable 2021 collaboration with the Philharmonia under the baton of Esa‐Pekka Salonen—celebrating the revival of live orchestral concerts post‐Covid lockdowns—received unanimous acclaim. With accolades like 'playful yet profound, offering the communal listening experience we've yearned for' from The Guardian, it's no surprise. This evening, she will delve into the concerto that Beethoven penned for his inaugural public performance in Vienna, a piece radiant with youthful elegance.

Dive into Finnish mythology with Lemminkäinen, the vibrant hero of the Kalevala epic. For Sibelius, a staunch advocate for Finnish independence, Lemminkäinen's tales offer rich inspiration. The suite Sibelius crafted captures four diverse legends: our hero's romantic conquests of a thousand brides and the subsequent pursuit by their kin the mystical cor anglais solo symbolizing the swan overseeing Tuonela, the realm of the departed Lemminkäinen's tragic end at the hands of an adversary and his miraculous revival by his devoted mother and the finale celebrating his victorious return from his quests.

The musical journey commences with Beethoven's overture for his sole opera, encapsulating the narrative's shift from confinement and desolation to aspiration and liberation, rendered in melodies teeming with passion and depth.